John Worsfold ended his career as coach of the West Coast Eagles on Thursday, stepping down from the role as coach of the club after 11 seasons.
West Coast chairman Alan Cransberg and CEO Trevor Nisbett met the press on Thursday, without Worsfold, and confirmed the one-time premiership coach had chosen to leave his role, but had not been fired after a disappointing Eagles’ season.
Both executives were unclear as to why Worsfold did not attend.
“It’s sad news for us,” Cransberg said.
“I think that it’s important that John recognised that he didn’t have the energy and the passion and the enthusiasm and the emotion to keep going.
“He’s a man of great integrity.”
Worsfold led the Eagles to premierships as a player in 1992 and 1994 and coached the club to two Grand Final appearances. He coached 274 games for the Eagles; winning 148, losing 124 and drawing two.
“It’s a really important decision for me and for the footy club,” Worsfold said in a statement issued by West Coast.
“I have come to that decision around the fact I shouldn’t do the job if I don’t have the energy to give it absolutely everything; that wouldn’t be the right thing for the club and basically that’s where it got to.
“My time is done as coach of this footy club. I couldn’t have had a better time, I couldn’t have asked for any more. I certainly couldn’t have given any more.”
The Perth Now reported Worsfold’s exit had to do with player unrest.
“It is known that even one highly-regarded senior player with two years still to run on his contract had made inquiries through his Melbourne-based manager to seek prospects of a move out of West Coast if a change in coaching and playing style wasn’t instigated by club management,” wrote columnist Kim Hagdorn.
Ruckman Nic Naitanui tweeted against rumours of disharmony among the playing group.
“Why the hell does the media know before us #aintright #hopeitsnottrue,” Naitanui originally tweeted before later removing it.
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